Collapsible form



March 25 1924.

R. T. TAYLOR COLLAPSIBLE FORM Filed May v, 1923 Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

hts

RALPH T. TAYLOR, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO V7. A. TAYLOR &SONS, 'OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, A PARTNERSHIP COMPOSED OF W. A. TAYLOR,REA 1.

TAYLOR, AND RALPH '1. TAYLOR.

COLLAPSIBLE FORM.

Application filed May 7,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RALPH T. TAYLOR, acitizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Collapsible Forms, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to collapsible forms 7 used for coring out of airspaces in hollow 19 concrete walls and other molded blocks orstructures.

The present invention has for its object the provision of an improvedcollapsible core which can be quickly and easily expanded or set up and,also, readily collapsed, embodying a construction wherein setting up andcollapsing are accomplished by positively acting mechanical means sothat the form is rigid when expanded and also adapted to 90 be collapsedwithout difliculty after the concrete has set.

The invention comprises sides, ends adapted to cooperate with the sideswith a wedging action, means for limiting the relative M expansion ofthe sides and with which the ends are adapted to cooperate, whencollapsing is being eflected, to positively draw the sides toward eachother, and means for positively relatively expanding, or contract- 0ing, the ends; thus, in my construction, whether the form is undergoingexpansion or contraction, the action is a positive mechanical one whichinsures accomplishment of the foregoing object.

The operative action between the sides preferably comprises chains whichlimit the relative expansion of the sides and are also so positionedthat they are engageable by the ends when the latter are contracted.Preferably, the operating connection between the ends comprises a togglejoint which, when expanded, moves the ends into wedging relationship tothe sides and, when broken, draws the ends toward each other and causesthem to cooperate with the chains to thereby draw the sides toward eachother.

The invention also embodies detail features having to do with theconstruction of the sides and ends and the support and oper- 1923.Serial No. 637,281.

ation of the chains, set forth more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the form whenextended;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4: is a detail plan view of one corner ofdthe form, certain partsbeing omitted; an

Figs. 5 and 6 detail side and plan views, respectively, of a modifiedtoggle strut.

The sides 1 are preferably of sheet metal reinforced by channel irons 2to afiord the requisite stiifness. The ends 3 are preferably of wood andare of wed e shape as shown in Figs. 2 and 1. The ends of the sides 1are bent or beveled at 4 to facilitate withdrawal of the form aftercollapsing. The formation of the ends of the sides 1 may alone be reliedupon for cooperation with the inclined or beveled parts'of the ends 3but I prefer to provide wooden strips 5, suitably secured to the sides 1which have inclined faces hearing upon the inc-lined faces of the ends3. Filling strips, such as shown at 5, reinforce the ends of the sides 1and afford suitable bearing surfaces for the ends 3 so that a firm andeven contact may be obtained when the ends 3 are wedged into position asshown in the drawings. Members 9 carried by the strips 5, engage theupper and lower extremities of the ends 8 for the purpose of preventingrelative up and down movement of the ends 8 and sides 1.

To prevent the ends 3 from twisting in relation to the sides 1, saidends are provided with plates or strips 10 which bear against the innerfaces of the strips 5.

Chains or other suitable flexible connec tions 11 are secured to thesides 1 and are of such length that when the ends 3 are suitably wedgedagainst the strips 5, the chains will be taut, thus limiting therelative expansion of the sides 1. The chains 11 are disposedsufficiently close to the ends 3 so that when the ends 3 are relativelycontract ed by breaking the toggle strut 6, the ends 3 will engage saidchains and positively pull the sides 1 toward each other, thus freeingthem from the concrete which has been molded or poured.

To enable the ends 3 to be moved toward each other av suitable distanceto permit freeing them from the molded or poured concrete and also toprovide for suitable relative movement of the sides during thisoperation, the ends 3 are provided wit-h channels or grooves 12 intowhich the chains may pass.

The chains 11 run through staples 13 carried by the ends 3 and arethereby prevented from falling.

The different views of the drawing show the form expanded or set upready for positioning in a mold into which concrete is to be poured.After the concrete has become set, the toggle strut 6 is pulled upwardlyby hand, thereby drawing the ends 3 toward each other and freeing themfrom the concrete. The engagement of the ends 3 with the chains 11causes the sides 1 to be positively drawn toward each other, thusfreeing them from the concrete. The form. having been collapsed, can bereadily withdrawn.

To set up the form, it is only necessary to push down on the togglestrut 6 to bring it to the position shown in the drawings. This actionforces the ends 3 against the strips 5 (or against the ends of the sides1 if the strips 5 are not used) and expands the sides 1 in relation toeach other until arrested by the chains 11 becoming taut.

I am aware that jointed links might be substituted for th chains 11 andby the use of the expression flexible connections in the claims, Iintend to cover either jointed links, chains, wire cables, or any otherflexible connections.

I am also aware that a toggle strut of different design might besubstituted for the toggle strut 6. This may be of any design embodyinga hinged or pivoted connection joining the two component parts of thetoggle in such a way as to secure a straightening and a breaking actionor a toggle action, thus providing a simple and positive method ofmoving the ends relatively toward or away from each other. This togglemay be of metal, wood, or other suitable material and may be secured tothe ends 3, by any convenient method allowing toggle action.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modified toggle strut composed of metalsections 6, 6" hinged to the ends 3 at 7 and operable by a handle 14:connected to section 6 and serving as a stop for the other section 6",

as shown at 14'. By the expression toggle strut I mean any mechanismembodying a toggle action for moving the ends relatively toward or awayfrom each other.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible core, the combination with relatively expansible andcontractible sides, of relatively expansible and contractible endsadapted to cooperate therewith, flexible connections between the sideswhich are positioned for operation by the ends when the latter arecontracted, and means for expanding and contracting the ends.

2. In a collapsible core, the combination with relatively expansible andcontractible sides, of relatively cxpansible and contractible endsadapted to cooperate therewith, chains connecting the sides which arepositioned for operation by the ends when the latter are contracted, andmeans for expanding and contracting the ends.

3. In a collapsible core, the combination with relatively expansible andcontractible sides provided with inclines or bevels at their ends, ofwedge shaped ends adapted to cooperate with the inclines or bevels ofthe sides, means for limiting the relative expansion of the sides, andatoggle strut connecting the ends by which said ends may be relativelyexpanded or contracted.

4. In a collapsible core, the combination with relatively expansible andcontractible sides provided with inclines or bevels at their ends, ofwedge shaped ends adapted to cooperate with the inclines or bevels ofthe sides, means for limiting the relative expansion of the sides, saidmeans being arranged to be operated by the ends when the latter arerelatively contracted, and a toggle strut connecting the ends by whichsaid ends may be relatively expanded or contracted.

5. In a collapsible core, the combination with sides adapted formovement toward and away from each other, of ends adapted for movementtoward and away from each other and for engagement withthe sides, meansfor operating the ends as aforesaid, said ends having grooves orchannels, chains connecting the sides to limit their relative expansion,and guides for said chains which are carried by the ends aforesaid, thechains being disposed relatively to the ends so that when the ends arerelatively contracted they will engage with the chains and causecontraction of the sides, the chains then passing into the grooves orchannels aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

RALPH 'r. TAYLOR.

